Day: May 9, 2008

Ask Dr. Democrat: Will Florida and Michigan Be Seated at the Convention?

Dr. Democrat

Dear Dr. Democrat:

I’m not sure I want Florida’s delegation to get seated. How would you do it? And how would you seat Michigan? Would you really think it’s fair to have those delegates count when Clinton’s was the only name on the ballot? I am really stymied here.

Really Stymied

Dear R.S.:

In terms of the actual proceedings of the convention, the “who gets seated” issue goes away when Obama reaches the magic number on May 20. There will not be a floor fight, which makes it irrelevant (or at least trivial) how many delegates Clinton got. The nomination will be settled with the first roll call.
doctordemocrat.jpg
The convention will be even more harmonious if Clinton is the VP nominee, which looks more likely today than it has, but is by no means certain. Etiquette requires Obama to offer it to her first, a la John Kennedy offering his VP spot to Lyndon Johnson, his bitterest rival. Like LBJ in 1960, HRC might just take the 2008 nominee up on his offer.

The new dynamic about seating delegates after Obama becomes the nominee is that the ultimate decision about how to keep Iowa, New Hampshire, Florida and Michigan happy no longer rests with Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean, but with Obama. I’m predicting he will seat Florida and Michigan, and then seek some permanent solution to the “me first” early primary controversy — a rotating list of states that can vote in January with Iowa and New Hampshire over the next century or so, a single permanent Super Tuesday for all states or rotating regional Super Tuesdays (the West votes first in 2012, the South in 2016, etc.), etc.

This year will the last we’ll have super delegates, that’s for sure.

Dr. D

Quote du Jour

Buck Banks

Editor: a person employed by a newspaper, whose business is to separate the wheat from the chaff, and to see that the chaff gets printed.

— Elbert Hubbard (1859-1915), American writer, publisher, artist and philosopher

South Florida Wants to Be the 51st State

Trish

Florida’s legislative session this year was one for the record books. The House, led by Miami Republican wonder boy Marco Rubio, devolved into deadlock and strife, including an all-nighter on the eve of Passover weekend. The Senate mired down over such important legislation as the outlawing of “truck nutz.” Meanwhile, neither produced real progress on insurance reform but did pass a budget that cut out kids, oldsters, the sick, the dying, the handicapped, the college-bound, and most folks in between.

It got so bad that, after not getting their way over slots gaming, a few South Florida legislators suggested the region take its tax money and set up its own state. The line, they said, would be drawn just north of the Broward County, which if you’re not familiar, is where Fort Lauderdale is.

North Florida, which would retain both the Gators and the Seminoles, was fine with South Florida going away.

The problem is that no one wants Central Florida, with its uncontrolled growth and traffic gridlock

If this had been done earlier, the good people of North Florida wouldn’t have had to suffer through eight years of Gov. Jeb Bush, a Miami resident.

We also wouldn’t have had to put up with the damage done to North Florida by House Speaker Marco Rubio, another Miami resident.

And think about it. Where do hurricanes strike most often?

That’s right. South Florida.

If North Florida became a separate state, maybe we wouldn’t have to subsidize rebuilding oceanfront mansions in South Florida and our property insurance rates would go down.

Hanging chads? Another state’s problem.

Yes, sir, this idea has real appeal.

The problem is that no one wants Central Florida, with its uncontrolled growth and traffic gridlock. Northeast Florida is now fighting efforts by Orlando to siphon water from the St. Johns River, a move which would dry up tributaries and wetlands across the region just to water Central Florida lawns and keep Lake Buena Vista blue for the tourists. Those fighting the water grab have nicknamed it, “The Big Suck.” Who wants to be on that team?

If South Florida won’t take Central Florida and Walt Disney World, perhaps it would be better to divide Florida into three states – North Florida, Central Florida and South Florida.

With that, Rubio could be governor of South Florida, Charlie Crist could be governor of Central Florida and we could elect someone with sense to be governor of North Florida.

That would be a refreshing change.

Buck and I could no longer commiserate about our shared state’s Democratic party, but we could compare notes on the two new states’ organizations, which are bound to be just as disappointing.

We’ll keep you posted on whether Florida joins the Dakotas and the Carolinas in civic divorce.

Republican Congressman Pulls a Twofer — Drunk Driving and Adultery

Buck Banks

scarletletter.jpgSo if you’re planning on running for re-election to Congress in November, is it really a good idea to get a snootfull, get into a car and drive over to see your 3-year-old illegitimate daughter? Apparently the total lack of prudence of such a course of action never occurred to Rep. Vito J. Fonsella, R-N.Y.

The five-term congressman from Staten Island was arrested for drunk driving May 1 in Alexandria, Va. He admitted that he was on his way to see his daughter by Laura Fay, a former Air Force officer. Fonsella has three children with his wife, Mary Pat.

Fonsella was already considered a weak candidate in the November elections, and his imbibing and driving, and his wayward willy now make it almost certain that the Dems are going to be all over his seat like marinara on linguine:

“This is a race that we’ve been targeting for a long time, and we believe that it’s a district that is certainly winnable,” said Carrie James, a spokeswoman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “We’re ready for an election now, or we’ll be ready in November.”

Of course, the Republicans, who are used to this kind of bad behavior, are playing it soft and sympathetic:

The chairman of the House GOP’s campaign organization, Tom Cole of Oklahoma, said Republican leaders are giving Fossella time to deal with his family problems before broaching the topic of his political future.

But Cole said the party will be ready to defend Fossella’s seat if he resigns or decides not to seek re-election this fall.

“We’re not going to be caught flat-­footed,” Cole said. “We think we can win in a special election. If he were to choose to vacate, there would be adequate candidates on both sides.”

For his part, Fonsella is suitably contrite:

“My personal failings and imperfections have caused enormous pain to the people I love, and I am truly sorry,” Fossella said in his statement. “While I understand that there will be many questions, including those about my political future, making any political decisions right now are furthest from my mind.’’

Making wise political decisions was certainly far from his mind when he got tanked up and drove off to see his bastard daughter. It was a typical Republican morality two-fer. At least he wasn’t wearing a dress and makeup.